How I Became A Grief Counsellor
My Background
I began my career in disability services (in the mid-1990s!), then worked across a range of agencies – government and community ones – and always alongside carers. Early on, I recognised the importance of supporting those who care for loved ones, as they often face their own challenges and emotional strain.
Over the course of 10-15 years, I gathered diverse experience in different roles, but my focus remained on working with carers. It was at this point that I decided to specialise, officially focusing on family carers and the unique needs they have, at Carers WA (as a Counselling Coordinator).
Right from the start, as a baby social worker, I was saddened by the gap between the help clients were asking for and the services organisations were offering. I must say, this situation isn’t better, 30 years on. People are still asked what they need help with and then often still told, what support each organisation can offer – and there is still a gap!
This is why I decided to work in the private sector, after all this time. I watched many bereaved families receive minimal support (this is not due to the wonderful staff in hospitals and agencies who want to provide more grief support, it is due to the lack of funding).
From Carers WA I then moved into cancer support, at Breast Cancer Care WA (as Services Coordinator and Counsellor) an area I am particularly passionate about. I began working directly with families affected by cancer – including those who were given a prognosis – were told they didn’t have long to live.
I have always learned so much from clients (to this day) and each person I spoke to had insights into their lives and their impending deaths. It was here that I found my niche and many agree with me that it is a deeply fulfilling area of work—an area I have continued to be involved in, ever since.
As I progressed, my focus expanded further into palliative care, where I supported both patients and their families through the end-of-life process. I worked across a variety of settings, including hospice care, hospitals, and in-home support (Hospice in the Home), helping families navigate the emotional and practical complexities of this challenging time.
As part of my palliative care work I provided bereavement support, where I saw a significant gap in services for grieving families. Once someone died, families – including kids and teenagers – were sometimes unable to get the support they required.
This led me to specialise in grief counselling, focusing on offering more comprehensive and compassionate support to those who have lost a loved one. I’ve been committed to this work ever since, providing people with the space and resources to process their grief in a way that feels meaningful to them. It is my wish that these services be provided free of charge and I hope that one day, this is the case.
Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work with people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. My experience has shaped the way I approach grief counselling today.